The news of Tamil film, Koozhangal (Pebbles) becoming India's official Oscar entry in the Best International Feature Film category recently made the news. The film was one of the 14 that were in the running to get a shot at being nominated for the 2022 Academy Awards. One of the 14 films was also Vicky Kaushal's most recent release, Sardar Udham, and here's why it did not make the cut at the meeting held on Saturday to discuss the same.

As the 94th edition of the Academy Awards are gearing up to take place on March 27, 2022, India announced its official entries on Saturday. The jury that came to the decision included Indraadip Dasgupta, who elaborated on why Sardar Udham, which was helmed by Shoojit Sircar, will not be getting the chance to feature at Oscars 2022.

Shoojit Sircar directed Udham Singh is out of the race of India’s official entry to the Oscars after Tamil film Koozhangal beat it and Sherni amongst other movies.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor at a recent India Today conclave, while talking about Indian history had said, “We are scratching at wounds that have already healed.” 

Toeing in line with this sentiment, Indraadip Dasgupta, who was part of the jury that rejected Sardar Udham’s entry from India to Oscars remarked, “..it (the film) again projects our hatred towards the British. In this era of globalization, it is not fair to hold on to this hatred.”

The film ‘Sardar Udham’

Sardar Udham, directed by Shoojit Sircar is a story on the life of Sardar Udham Singh, a revolutionary freedom fighter. He went down in history for assassinating Michael O’Dwyer in London to take revenge for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar.

The film received widespread applause and an IMDb rating of 9.2. Starring Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal in the lead, the film was one among 14 shortlisted for India’s official entry to the Oscars.

Sumit Basu, who was also part of the jury mentioned that Sardar Udham was hailed for its camera work, editing and cinematic quality. However, he stated that the film had a 'delayed climax' and it took viewers a lot of time to feel the emotions of the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Sardar Udham released on October 16 on Amazon Prime Video and also starred Banita Sandhu, Amol Parashar, Stephen Hogan and others.

‘Movie with an agenda’

Despite the resounding success, the jury did not find Sardar Udham good enough to make the cut citing outrageous reasons. Dasgupta while defending their Oscar selection criticized Sardar Udham for ‘harping on hatred’. 

“Sardar Udham is a well-made production with brilliant cinematography that lives up to international standards. But it is a little lengthy and harps on the Jallianwala Bagh incident,” Dasgupta said, downplaying one of the bloodiest chapters of Indian history. 

That is not where he stopped. “It is an honest effort to make a lavish film on an unsung hero of the Indian freedom struggle. But in the process, it again projects our hatred towards the British. In this era of globalization, it is not fair to hold on to this hatred,” added Dasgupta, drawing a rather illogical comparison between ‘history’ and ‘globalization.’ 

Justifying the selection of Tamil film Koozhangal for Academy Awards 2022, Dasgupta claimed, “Koozhangal in contrast (to Sardar Udham) is a truly Indian film with a global appeal. It has no agenda attached to it. It is the most honest film among all the contenders.”

It is baffling how a chapter from Indian history has been termed ‘not Indian enough’ by the jury. 

On the fateful day April 13, 1919, thousands had gathered peacefully in the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar to protest against the British aggression against the nationalists.

Brigadier REH Dyer ordered his troops to surround the Jallianwala Bagh and open fire on peaceful unarmed protesters. Thousands of people died, including young children and women.

Michael O’Dwyer was the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab at the time of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. This incident changed Udham Singh forever. He pledged to work for freedom till his last breath.

In 1940 in Britain, Udham Singh assassinated O’Dwyer. The story of movie Sardar Udham revolves around this.

Rabindranath Tagore was so shocked and angry that he renounced his knighthood saying "such mass murderers aren't worthy of giving any title to anyone".

REH Dyer died of strokes at the age of 62 in England.

Koozhangal on the other hand selected for ‘humanism’ is the story of a young boy following his ‘violent’ and ‘alcoholic’ father to get his mother back who had run away to escape the ‘abuse.’ 

Who is Indraadip Dasgupta?

Indraadip Dasgupta is an Indian music composer-turned-director, well known for his work in various Bengali films. 

Dasgupta is all set to release his next project ‘Bismillah’ on Janmasthami next year. The movie reportedly will focus on the tradition of a musical family and how foreign intrusion creates disturbances in it.

References:

Republicworld.com - By Adelle Fernandes
Opindia.com - OpIndia Staff
Organiser.org - Web Desk